Church made his major league debut for the Expos in August 2004,
struggling in the 30 games he played in the last two months of the
season. He ended the season with a .187 batting average.

After struggling in the first month of the 2005 season
Church was considered a candidate for the Rookie of
the Year Award, until he injured himself running into the
outfield wall at PNC Park
on June 22, 2005. At the time of the incident, Church was batting
.325 with a .544 slugging percentage. After the
incident, Church made two trips to the disabled list and was unable to match his
hitting performance from the first half of the season.

In 2006, Church was demoted to Triple-ANew Orleans after struggling early
in the year. However, Church was sent back to the majors on July
23, and ended up hitting .276 with a career best 10 home runs and .892 OPS. His 10 home runs in just 196
at-bats in
2006 projects to around 30 home runs for an entire season.

In 2007, Church had career highs in games
(144), at bats (470), runs (57), hits (128), doubles (43), home runs (15), and RBI (70). He
finished the year batting .272, slugging .464 and a .813 OPS.

In spring
training2008, Church was involved in a
collision with first
basemanMarlon Anderson that resulted in a
Grade 2 concussion for Church. He recovered without any serious
injuries. On May 20, 2008, Church suffered a minor concussion while
sliding into Atlanta Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar. It
appeared as though when Church initially slid, his head made
contact with Escobar's right knee. Following Church hitting his
head, he slid about eight feet past 2nd base with his forehead
dragging on the dirt. Church made his return to the starting lineup
on June 1, 2008, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, collecting
three hits including a home run and a double. However, he was
placed on the disabled list with aftereffects of the
concussion he suffered. On September 3, Church had his second
career grand slam off of Dave Bush.

Controversy

In 2005, the Nationals suspended Jon Moeller, a volunteer chaplain, and issued an
apology after Church, a devout Christian, revealed conversations he had with
him about a Jewish former
girlfriend. Church told the Washington
Post that the chaplain nodded when he asked whether Jews
were "doomed" because they "don't believe in Jesus." After Jewish community leaders
complained, Church issued a statement saying, "I am not the type of
person who would call into question the religious beliefs of
others." [5]